Effect of Sub Maximal Exercise Training on Exercise Capacity in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a heterogeneous condition embracing several overlapping pathological process including chronic bronchitis, chronic Bronchiolitis (small air way disease) and emphysema. Many patients also exhibits systemic component characterized by impaired nutrition, weight loss and skeletal muscle dysfunction. Fear for shortness of breath often results in avoidance of physical activity and therefore enhances exercise intolerance and social isolation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Physiotherapy plays a key in multidisciplinary interventions. The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of sub maximal exercise training on exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Experimental study design was utilized in this study. Intervention protocol mode is done with sub maximal exercise, at frequency of 20 minutes/day at 5 days/week at a duration of 4 weeks. intensity has been set at 60 revolution /min ( 85/100x 220-age). the study was done at pulmonary rehabilitation department Alvas college of physiotherapy at outpatient unit. Twenty subjects of both genders male and female at age group of 20-50 years were divided into groups. Selection criteria on inclusion of the subjects diagnosed as COPD, outpatient rehabilitation based subjects and subjects at pregnancy and Dysnea at rest were excluded. The outcome measurement is done by 6 WMD test. The exercise capacity measured by 6MWD test in patients with COPD and the % of improvement for Group A (Experimental Group) which is treated with sub maximal exercises is 0.079 % more than that of Group B (Control group) which is treated with pulmonary rehabilitation. The study concludes that the subjects with COPD are treated with pulmonary rehabilitation usually and in this study it is proved bearing on the results that sub maximal exercise when added to pulmonary rehabilitation can give good improvement in exercise capacity for subjects with COPD.